Lagos lawyer remanded for alleged forgery, fraud

A Lagos-based lawyer, Chinwe Onuoha, has been remanded in a correctional facility by a Lagos High Court for allegedly attempting to defraud the Bank of Industry (BoI) using forged documents.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi ordered her remand after she was arraigned on a 12-count charge filed by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU).

Onuoha was arraigned alongside a company, Eihcrim Nigeria Limited, for the alleged offences.

According to the prosecution, the defendants, along with others now at large, conspired to forge a document titled “The Lease Agreement” dated February 12, 2018, which was submitted to the Bank of Industry in 2020 as part of a scheme to fraudulently secure a loan to the detriment of one Ngozi Braide.

Prosecuting counsel Emmanuel Jackson told the court that the offences contravened Sections 516, 465, and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He alleged that the forged document included the falsified signature of one Titilayo Opeyemi.

Onuoha and her co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jackson urged the court to proceed to trial and sought the defendant’s remand in a correctional facility pending the conclusion of the case.

However, the defence counsel, Ikechukwu Chiaha, requested a hearing for his client’s bail application, arguing that she needed adequate preparation for her defence.

Justice Oshodi adjourned the hearing of the bail application to February 25 and ordered Onuoha’s remand in custody.